'We have sent a report to the directorate and are awaiting their response,' Mayya said.

A spokesperson for the joint director of collegiate education, Mangalore, the district's main town, told IANS on phone: 'We have sent Aug 18 a report to our head office in Bangalore on the issue and are awaiting directions.'

In Bangalore, a spokesperson of the directorate said: 'We will decide the action on studying the report.'

The college is affiliated to Mangalore University.

Ashmin met university Vice Chancellor K.M. Kaveriappa Aug 18 and sought his intervention to resolve the issue or get her admission to another college affiliated to the university.

Kaveriappa told reporters in Mangalore that the university authorities can do little about the matter as colleges can form their own rules and regulations. However, since the college gets government aid, the directorate of collegiate education can act on the issue.

Dakshina Kannada frequently sees communal tension, mainly over Muslim youth talking to Hindu girls. On January 25 this year a group of right-wing Hindu activists had bashed up young girls for visiting a pub.

A few days later, daughter of a Kerala legislator was held for two hours as she was found talking to two Muslim boys in a bus. The two young men were roughed up while the girl was released unharmed.